#4 Their True Duties
“This is an unthinkable matter even for the academy faculty. A mere first-year student—who’s been at the academy for barely a month—has dared to mock and humiliate a professor right before the eyes of every student present! I have no idea where this problem even came from, and the boy himself can’t even solve it!”
“…”
Academy Chancellor Valian Francois was growing tense as he read the report.
Right there in the room, he wanted nothing more than to kick the worthless professor—oh, what a waste even calling him that—in the backside and shout, “This is Minerva Academy, you bastard!”
While sitting here, he had already figured out every single professor at the academy.
He knew every last detail about Egmas, yet this ridiculous behavior was still coming from him.
But he wasn’t just any professor. He held the position of academy chancellor himself.
One single act of his could damage the academy’s reputation, so he couldn’t act rashly.
On top of that, the professor who had come to report the student’s incident carried some hidden backing, which made dealing with him all the more delicate.
Although the academy claims it’s managed in many ways to remain free from excessive noble influence…
Where in the world was power that lenient?
Even when using the bathroom, having backing meant you could go first.
According to Valian, Egmas was a capable mage even within the Magic Tower, using his influence to build connections under the guise of “magic rehearsal” while traveling around the various academies.
Yet when he finally took the professorship a few years ago, it had nothing to do with the joy of teaching students.
Probably just trying to stuff his own name into the list of promising students entering the academy.
Back when the chancellor himself attended the academy, the importance of such connections had grown far greater.
It had become a weapon for graduates and professors alike to flaunt their own names.
The academy’s original purpose had been to educate all talent—noble and common alike—so that the kingdom could ultimately become a prosperous and strong nation.
That was the spirit of Minerva Academy.
But over time, it seemed to be warping in strange directions, leaving Valian with a heavy heart.
“Excuse me, Professor Egmas. From what I’ve heard, there seems to be nothing wrong at all.”
“Chancellor, what a hurtful thing to say.”
“I’m the one being hurt here. He’s still a first-year. A young friend who’s barely been at the academy for a month. What could that possibly mean coming from a Magic Tower mage?”
“It’s simply that I don’t see the passion in these boys. Without effort or enthusiasm, they’ll certainly end up sitting comfortably in their family seats as useless nobles. Besides, humiliating a professor is something that should never happen!”
“So what do you plan to do about it? Are you going to expel him from the academy?”
Expelling a student from the academy was not impossible.
However, it required a serious precondition—intentional severe harm, or any act that could harm the kingdom.
Was Lucian guilty of that? No. Had he done anything that endangered the kingdom? Definitely not.
Students confronting professors had always existed in the history of the academy.
From minor provincial nobles to royal families, there had been countless cases of foolish young men using their family’s authority.
Therefore, this incident was actually quite mild and adorable.
Even the chancellor and Professor Egmas knew that.
Yet the way he was now coming to whine about it left Valian with no choice but to speak politely.
“I do know that is impossible.”
“Then what do you intend to do?”
“What I always do, Chancellor. I send a warning to the students in your name.”
“Students, no matter where they come from, are still just students here. Follow the professor’s guidance. If anyone is unhappy, they may leave the academy immediately. Is that clear?”
“Exactly as you say.”
That’s when Valian closed his eyes.
He was no ordinary deaf man, and he already knew exactly who Egmas was.
Right now, the man was simply furious at being humiliated.
Countless students had already gnashed their teeth over this man in the past.
Yet because his backing made him a bit uneasy and Valian didn’t want internal trouble, he had been holding back.
“Professor Egmas, right now…”
Knock knock.
“Please prepare for your next lecture. You damned bastard.”
Valian was about to deliver that line when the sudden knock stopped him.
“Who is it?”
“Chancellor, a letter just arrived from the Magic Tower.”
“…The Magic Tower?”
Any mage worth their name would have wanted to visit there at some point.
Those who had made a name for themselves in magic always passed through it.
If the academy was the gathering place for the kingdom’s future talents, then the Magic Tower was the gathering place for magic prodigies.
However, handling the unique field of magic had given it a slightly closed-off atmosphere.
A strange rumor circulated that once a mage entered, he might never come out again for years.
Now a letter from the Magic Tower suddenly arriving at Minerva Academy?
Valian blinked in surprise, then gestured for the secretary to bring it over.
Rip.
He tore open the envelope, unfolded the neatly folded paper, and began reading.
After a moment, he let out a startled gasp.
“Ah…?”
Feeling as if he might have misread, he checked again.
Even after reading it twice, the content remained unchanged.
Valian placed the letter down slowly and turned to the professor still waiting for his answer.
“I’m sorry, Professor Egmas.”
“Yes, Chancellor.”
“I’m afraid I cannot accept your request.”
“On what grounds? Could it be that the Theodor family has some connection?”
“No. Right now, from this moment forward, your position as academy professor is revoked.”
“…What?”
Egmas’s face twisted in disbelief.
Revoked without warning? Was this some kind of joke?
“Chancellor, I require an explanation for this.”
“Read it for yourself.”
Valian pointed to the letter on the desk.
Egmas snatched it up and began scanning the contents with urgent eyes.
After a moment, his eyes widened in shock.
“A moment from now, the Magic Tower membership of Egmas Le Dereid is suspended—”
“What…?!”
“I already know, but our academy raises excellent students by employing the best professors. The basic requirement for professors teaching magic classes, as you know, is membership in the Magic Tower. However, Professor Egmas’s membership has just been suspended, and as a result, his professorship is also revoked.”
“This… This cannot be! Chancellor! There must have been some mistake at the Magic Tower…”
“Enough with the excuses. What mistake? Do you think the people in our management department are the kind who make errors while eating expensive subsidies?”
The voice was not Valian’s.
It had come from a man standing in front of the chancellor’s office door.
He stared coldly at Egmas, then gave a slight bow.
“I apologize for barging in so suddenly, Chancellor Valian Francois. I was about to leave when a certain dog-like man was making a racket outside the door, so I couldn’t help but come in and chase the mutt away.”
“What? What did you just say…?”
“Nothing. I was already about to chase away a certain dog-like man who no longer has any right to set foot on the academy. However, please allow me to introduce myself.”
The man removed his hat with impeccable manners, revealing himself as an exceptionally refined gentleman.
The gesture was one usually performed toward a noblewoman, leaving both Valian and Egmas momentarily stunned.
Yet the words that followed stunned them both further.
“I am Yoheim der Schifke. Head of the Magic Tower’s Inspection Department.”
“Inspection…? Gah! The Inspection Department? The head?”
“The head of the Inspection Department?”
The reason both the chancellor and Professor Egmas reacted so strongly was simple.
The Magic Tower was enormous, so it had numerous subordinate departments.
Among them, the Inspection Department was the one mages feared most.
If any mage tarnished the honor of another mage or the prestige of the Magic Tower, the Inspection Department would immediately investigate, assess the severity, and impose punishment.
It might end with a stern warning, or escalate to a formal reprimand—and if the matter was truly grave, they could even suspend a mage’s membership on the spot.
Mages known for their pride and eccentricity would fall silent the moment the Inspection Department arrived, unable to utter a word.
Now the head himself had appeared at the academy.
“Egmas Le Dereid.”
“Y-yes!”
“Twelve years ago, you obtained your Magic Tower membership. At the same time, you were officially recognized as a member of the Mages’ Association. Am I correct?”
“That is correct, but…”
“As I mentioned in the letter delivered earlier, from today forward your Magic Tower membership is suspended. Furthermore, you have been permanently expelled from the Mages’ Association.”
“Eh? No, what kind of nonsense is this…?”
“It is not yet over. I hear you have been committing various strange acts despite your membership. We must tolerate it somewhat. If we overlook far too much, we won’t be able to close our eyes.”
Head Yoheim clapped lightly.
Almost immediately, the door opened again, and several mages from the Inspection Department entered and placed mana-control cuffs on Egmas’s outstretched hands.
His scream of protest echoed as he struggled against the cuffs.
Yoheim rubbed his ear irritably and spoke.
“You will be taken to the Magic Tower for investigation. If you have anything to say, do so in the interrogation room.”
“Why?! What is this?! Uwoh! Waaah!!”
Even the mana-control cuffs were not enough; a black cloth was wrapped around his face.
Valian let out a stifled laugh, finding the sight strangely amusing.
After the commotion passed, Yoheim shrugged.
“I apologize. It seems a member of the Magic Tower has shown a shameful sight.”
“Not at all. More importantly, a distinguished guest has arrived, and I would like to offer you a drink.”
“The chancellor of the famous Minerva Academy offering tea? As tempting as it is, I cannot leave my post right now in case some other mad mage causes trouble. Would you mind having a drink with me later when I have more free time?”
“Of course. Feel free to visit anytime.”
“Thank you for your hospitality, Chancellor Valian Francois.”
Yoheim rose, gave a bow in the same refined manner he had introduced himself, and turned to leave the chancellor’s office.
Then he sighed with an “Ah” and spoke casually.
“If you need a replacement professor for Egmas’s position, please let me know. I have a junior who has just returned to regular membership after finishing his Inspection duties. He would make an excellent professor.”
Valian nodded at those words.
As the two men finished their exchange and prepared to part ways in the chancellor’s office, the sound of a notification rang out.
— Processing complete. —
The reply to the request he had sent earlier via the full-mana system had arrived.